Posture is painful to my eyes, just as an out-of-tune note is painful to a musician’s ear.

This sensitivity comes from my own experience. As a child I was sporty, but I had poor posture and no awareness that it could cause problems later in life.

Now, working with adults in clinical practice, I see how many injuries originate from postural dysfunction. When I trace back how patients use their posture day-to-day, they often remember having the same habits when they were children. Those early postures gradually shorten certain muscles, and years later those are often the muscles that become injured.

One concept I like to use is the “bored posture.”

When a child moves into a bored posture, it usually means their nervous system has had enough of that activity. This can happen for a few reasons.

Sometimes the muscles have been static for too long. When muscles stay in one position, oxygen flow decreases, tension builds in some muscles, and others soften to compensate and keep balance in the body. Eventually the brain shows this through body language — the bored posture.

Another reason is mental fatigue. The mind can go into “numb and scroll” mode — disengaged and unfocused — and the body mirrors that state through posture.

There may be other reasons too, but the message is simple:

We’ve been in that position for too long.

If you notice these postures in your child, it may be time to pause the activity. At the very least, encourage a change of posture. Take a short break, walk around, drink some water, stretch, and then return if needed.

This advice is just as relevant for adults working from home.

And to be honest, this is only the beginning of developing awareness of what body language can teach us.

In physiotherapy, body language is part of the assessment process that helps guide diagnosis. Learning to notice these signs is a simple way for parents — even without clinical training — to start supporting the physical health of their children.

Look at these pictures as hints to help you recognise boredom postures.From there, you have choices: change posture, take a break, change activity, and teach the body healthier movement habits.

Then explore more dynamic postures and notice which ones make the body feel more energised.

But remember:

Changing posture often is helpful.Changing activity and moving the body is even better.

Below is some example of dynamic postures as they improve circulation and also stretch certain parts of the body while static.

HOWEVER, ANY POSTURE, GOOD OR BAD, STATIC FOR TOO LONG ISN'T A GOOD POSTURE. The same as drinking too much water, can kill.

If you would like to go a step further in supporting your child’s physical development, I have created an online Safe Stretching Guidance program for parents of young footballers. In this program, I show you simple ways to recognise postural patterns, guide your child through safe stretches, and help their growing bodies stay balanced, mobile, and injury-resistant while they enjoy the sport they love. It is designed specifically for parents — no medical background needed — just practical guidance to help you support your child with confidence. If this is something that resonates with you, I would love to welcome you into the program.

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